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Marc Bekoff: Killing urban wildlife is not euthanasia

Posted:
06/18/2014 01:00:00 AM MDT

When urban animals such as black bears and cougars are killed for one reason or another it is not euthanasia (“Wildlife officials: Early season euthanization of 2 bears in Boulder, Loveland ‘concerning',” Boulder Camera, June 13). The animals are killed, not euthanized. Euthanasia is mercy killing to alleviate interminable pain and suffering for those who are hopelessly ill or injured. When zoos kill animals because they don't fit into their breeding programs they like to say they euthanized them. They didn't — they “zoothanized” them. Using the word “euthanasia” in one form or another is a way to sanitize what is really happening. Let's get the words straight and then perhaps people who are passive about the unnecessary killing of urban wildlife because we don't take easy measures to coexist will take action to stop this horrific practice.

Longmont senior became program's first two-time state championThe hallways surrounding the gym at Longmont High School are filled with photos of athletes who have succeeded before graduating and moving on. Drake Engelking will leave the greatest resume for a wrestler in Longmont High School program history that will be added to those walls upon graduation later this year. Full Story

The Boulder alt-country band gives its EPs names such as Death and Resurrection, and its songs bear the mark of hard truths and sin. But the punk energy behind the playing, and the sense that it's all in good fun, make it OK to dance to a song like "Death." Full Story